Ko Lanta rich of Beaches

This page provides a short summary of the beaches on Ko Lanta. There are slight variations in the type of resort available, beach characteristics, depth of water, and distance. Select the beach you are interested in, and click on the individual links to see further details.

Ko Lanta Yai is long, thin island. The ferry docks at the northern-most end of the island, known as Ban Saladan ( Saladan Town ).

From Saladan, a drive down to the south will take approximately an hour with a distance of 30km. All nine beaches are located on the west coast of the island, running north to south. The east coast is more mountainous and covered with rainforest. The road ends at the office in Ko Lanta's Marine National Park , where the islands' recognizable lighthouse is located.

The national park area with its' two curved, private beaches are simply wonderful, and well worth a visit!

Kaw Kwang Beach

Located in the northern part of Ko Lanta, next to Ban Saladan, Kaw Kwang Beach has its own character. Kaw Kwang, which means “deer neck” in Thai, has an elegantly curved beach line, resembling the sway of a dear's neck. When the tide is low, you can walk to a little island at the end of the cape. On this beach you will find both the Kaw Kwang and Twin Bay Resorts.

Last Beach or Bamboo Bay

Last Beach or Bamboo Bay is the last beach on east side before the national park area begins. It is a slightly curved beach around five hundred meters long, with lovely white sands and clear waters. Swimming is suitable here when the tide is not too deep. The northern part of this beach has rock pools where it’s possible to snorkel and watch the fish. It is surrounded the high national park mountains. This beach is extremely private, and feels cast away from the outside world. Bamboo Bay contains a handful of basic resorts, spread along the beach.

National Park Beach

There are two beaches in Ko Lanta's National Park - Had Hin Ngam (a beautiful stone beach) and Tanod or Palm Beach . These two beaches stand on protected land, with no nearby resorts. The surrounding area is rich and diverse with amazing tropical nature, trekking and walking trail-ways and fantastic opportunities for bird and wild life watching.

Ko Lanta's symbol, the lighthouse overlooking the southernmost tip of the island, provides a fabulous panoramic view, and the beach is a well-known beauty spot for picnics.

Klong Dao Beach

Boasting a spectacular three kilometre stretch of white sands and clear, shallow water, Klong Dao was the first beach to be developed on Ko Lanta, just over 5 years ago. With its' stunning sunsets and impressive landscape, it's easy to see why.

Excellent, safe swimming makes this the most popular family beach on Ko Lanta. Nonetheless it remains spacious even in peak season, and a short walk will find you a patch without neighbors.

The beach offers a wide selection of both up-market and small family owned resorts with accommodation for all budgets.

Pra Ae or Long Beach

Just South of Klong Dao is Phra-Ae (also known as Long Beach ) a stunning crescent of sand some 4 kilometres long. The beach is steeper and the sea not as sheltered as at Klong Dao, which makes for fantastic swimming for adults.

The resorts here are spread out over a greater distance, mainly clustered at the north and south ends. Most visitors find Phra-Ae 'deserted' even in peak season .

Klong Khong Beach

A little further south is Klong Khong, another three-kilometre stretch of sand, with palm trees and a good collection of resorts famous for their sunsets and laid-back locals. Swimming and snorkeling is excellent from right off the shore, and at low tide, rocks teeming with aquatic life are visible and accessible. The abundance of sea life makes for nightly beach feasts second to none. Prices for accommodation are substantially lower here than on the northern beaches, and many are small, family-owned businesses offering a friendly, relaxed service.

Klong Nin Beach

Turn right off the paved road when you see the signposts, and discover Klong Nin, a few kilometres stretch of white-sand beach with emerald green-waters. Klong Nin has an abundance of tropical trees including pine and coconut, set against the backdrop of lush, green tropical rain forest.

Bungalow resorts are scattered spaciously along the beach, ranging from simple, inexpensive family bungalows to more upscale pool and spa resorts.

Ba Kan Tieng Beach

Excellent swimming conditions and a fabulous stretch of white sand surrounded by the mountains of Ko Lanta's national park make this small beach very impressive. At just over a kilometre in length and with only a few resorts, Ba Kan Tiang feels very private and secluded. Accommodation ranges from simple family-run places to the only five-star resort on Ko Lanta.

Klong Jark Beach or Waterfall Beach

Klong Jark (or waterfall beach) is just 3 kilometers from the waterfall in the national park. This is a fairly private beach due to access only by unpaved road. The beach gets its name from the waterfall, which is just a 3 kilometer walk away. The trip, which follows a stream, features elephant trekking and sighting of a variety of birds and wild creatures, including the monkey wild pig.